You beat me to the 'cut.' Yes, you are right on, We must remember the Asian swords go back thousands of years and the Sword masters did what magic they could despite no modern facility or modern science which does make great steel. Nevertheless, some sword makers did have the 'magic.' Some layers of folded steel can be more prone to crack and break as some layers don't bond wel given poor heat treating I think. A layer can separate internally and weaken the blade strength. I have some old laminated steel blades and modern steel blades. I trust the consistency of modern steel refinement and technology, I also accept laminated steel can be amazing, but I generally trust the modern steel to not crack under the shocks of combat. That is my personal take now. I also agree someone has a laminated blade that would cut other steel blades in half.

why not just burn off the impurities? at the requisite temperatures

What type of steel is best then for a katana?

@@valek7052 Adamantium

Vibranium

Thanks for the support!

Me too bro!

I have a question for seeing as though you have researched this a fair amount. What is the BEST steel for combat? The HARDEST and hopefully the SHARPEST steel that retains an edge longer? I mean a real brutal COMBAT READY steel? Is it 1095 or T10 or is it something else?

​@@DadBroCo the best? is difficult to know which that would be. Al Pendray died 2017, was most likely the closest anyone has ever come to recreating authentic Damascus wootz steel, anything else I dare say is marketing or fake. If I had to guess, I would say this is it. See this video in memory of one of the greatest minds in the realm of steel refining for the purpose of forging weapons of the modern day kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hbZog6acyKi-hWg.html

@@DadBroCo Hard means brittle, so that might not be ideal to begin with

This method was used in Europe and Middle East, but they stopped using this, because melting the iron created a better Steel.

@@talkysassis In Europe, the Middle East and China, iron ore and coal were used for ironmaking. Iron ore and coal are high in phosphorus and sulfur. Phosphorus and sulfur make steel brittle. The high temperature furnace melts phosphorus and sulfur, so it does not remove impurities. Iron ore does not contain vanadium, which reinforces steel. In Japan, iron sand and charcoal were used for iron making. Ironsand and charcoal have low phosphorus and sulfur content. The low temperature furnace used the difference in melting temperature between iron, phosphorus and sulfur to remove phosphorus and sulfur. Ironsand contains vanadium, which reinforces steel. Since this low temperature iron making method was superior to the high temperature iron making method, Japan exported katana to China, Mongolia, Korea and Southeast Asia from around the 10th century. In modern Japan, a steel called Yasugi Specialty Steel is made by this low temperature iron making method. Since this special steel has the same properties as katana, it is hard and elastic, so it is hard to break, so it is used for various purposes. This special steel is used in various applications such as cutlery steel, electronics materials, high-end kitchen knife materials, razor materials, automobile parts materials, and automobile engine parts. The city of Seki has been producing katana since the 10th century and exporting it to many countries. Even today, Seki City exports cutlery to the world. The city of Seki has factories for Henckels and Kai. The blade here is made by the same low temperature iron making method as katana. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z82cbJhym9TGZqs.html

​@@tn1881 Hi, I am sorry to inform you, but you are wrong about a number of things. 1. In Europe an abundance of sources for iron ore was used. From iron sand, over bog iron and bean ore, to hematite and magnetite extracted from underground mines. 2. The principle of the Tatara (in Europe called bloomery furnace) was known in Europe since ~3000 years ago. Newer versions like the catalan forge or the Stueckoven survived until the late 19th century. Those ovens all work after the same direct reduction principle as the Tatara and produce just as "clean" steel as the Japanese counterpart. 3. Bloomeries always used charcoal for Steel production. The use of hardcoal even in the blast furnace and finery forges was not very common until the industrial revolution. 4. Europeans were aware that some ores (especially bog ores) produced iron and steel that was not suited for some applications and developed methods to mitigate this problem. Furthermore iron with a high phosphorus content was not always undesired since it has some interesting properties that make it valuable even today. 5. Any vanadium/titanium/manganese/etc. content inside Ironsand an other ores is completely irrelevant for the final product. They don't reduce and melt during the bloomery process and thus, cannot be solved inside the steel structure. They remain as impurities (slag) inside the steel structure. It is however not irrelevant for the steel production process, since titanium and vanadium oxides have a very high melting point and tend to clog tuyères, which are necessary for a good airflow, and can prevent the slag inside the tatara to run out, which reduces the quality of the kera. In fact during the steel production inside a tatara, Japanese smelters mix high quality ironsand with lower quality ironsands (smaller iron content) to make the slag more liquid. 6. Bloomery steel is not in any way better than modern steel, it has some interesting properties that make it of interest for Bladesmiths even today, but not because of it's quality.

@@PagsPayback 1. European iron ore has a high content of phosphorus and sulfur. Phosphorus and sulfur make steel brittle. In iron making by the Bessemer converter method, iron ore in Europe was not used due to its high content of phosphorus and sulfur. So Europe imported iron ore. 2. The tatara ironmaking method is a low temperature ironmaking method. Since the temperature of the furnace is 1300 ° C, iron is in a semi-melted state, but impurities phosphorus and sulfur are melted and discharged. Phosphorus, which is an impurity of tamahagane, is 0.029%, and sulfur is 0.0026%, so there are few impurities. Around 1970, Hitachi metals, a Japanese steel company, analyzed the tatara iron making method and developed Yasugi Specialty Steel (yasugi hagane). Yasugi Steel has the same properties as katana, it is hard, elastic and hard to break. Yasugi Steel is used in various applications such as cutting tool steel, high-end kitchen knife materials, razor materials, automobile parts materials, automobile engine parts, and aircraft engine parts.The developers of Yasugi Steel have become teachers of traditional tatara steelmaking. The ironmaking engineer of hitachi metals is learning the tatara ironmaking method from him. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r9x6etB92s7bqqc.html The city of Seki has been producing katana since the 12th century and exporting it to other countries. Currently, the city of Seki exports Yasugi Steel knives to the world. Henckels of Germany manufactures luxury knives in Seki. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z82cbJhym9TGZqs.html Japan has been exporting katana to China, Mongolia, Korea and Southeast Asia since the 10th century. These countries used blast furnaces as they did in the West. There is a description of katana in the historical record. Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072), a politician from the Song dynasty in China, wrote the poem Japanese katana song. katana became the theme of poetry, and many apanese katana songs were written until the Qing dynasty in the 19th century. Mongolian scholar Zheng Si-xiao (1241-1318) "Japanese samurai are unforgiving, samurai are not afraid of death. Even if ten samurai fight against 100 Mongolian soldiers, the samurai will fight against them. The samurai fights until his death. Katana is extremely sharp. " Qi Jiguang (1528 - 1588), a general of the Ming dynasty in China, developed a sword called Qijiadao based on katana. Mao Yuanyi (1594-1640), a military scholar of the Ming dynasty in China, “katana is extremely robust and sharp. The Chinese sword is not as good as katana. " From the records of Westerners. Portuguese missionary Luis Frois (1532- 1597) "katana is the best of all previously discovered." Netherland missionary Arnoldus Montanus (1625-1683) "Katana is so well forged that it is easy to cut European-style blades." British Japanese studies researcher Basil Hall Chamberlain (1850-1935) "katana surpasses Damascus swords and Toledo swords." 4. For blade steel, phosphorus and sulfur cause the blade to lose its toughness. These impurities are not desirable for cutlery steel. 5. Non-metal inclusions such as vanadium give steel soft and stretchable properties. Oxide-based inclusions are finely dispersed by forging by folding back. This makes katana tenacious, forms a beautiful pattern, and imparts the property of enhancing polishing performance. In other words, the non-metal inclusions of ordinary steel are malignant, but the non-metal inclusions that are abundantly scattered in tamahagane are benign inclusions. When vanadium is added to steel, it combines with carbon to form a finer metal structure. The blade can increase its strength without impairing its toughness, and also improves its wear resistance and heat resistance. 6.hitachi metals analyzed tatara steelmaking and made Yasugi Specialty Steel. hitachi metals researched special steel using sponge iron and low temperature iron making method. This steel is used for kitchen knives made in Japan.

@@tn1881 Modern steel contains less then 0.025% precisely because it gets very hot. It burns off during oxigenation. There are some special steel sorts with higher s/p content for better machinability. Frankly, the assumption, that some craftsman 500years ago, with absolutely no understanding of what he was actually doing would make better steel then today is absolutely ridiculous and doesnt get any less so when u repeat it some more.

That’s what I was thinking, more on the types of metal being used. Example: A uniform steel fold is different than Damascus fold; one metal vs two(or more) metals. Unless you can form a truely new uniform metal product using two or more different metals, there will always be a physical gap in the folds between the layers. This provides weaknesses but also strengths. Different steels for different applications. Uniform metal only has to worry about the impurities in the folds; thus making it easier and more ideal for a wide range of uses. Very informative video nonetheless

It also depends on the skill of the blacksmith

The traditional katana methods have been obsolete for many decades. A simple mono steel blade made from 80crv2 or 9260 will outperform them in edge retention and flexibility. They build the swords like the kitchen knives, soft spine and very hard edge thus making them prone to chip, break and bend. All for the sake of keeping tradition alive.

In modern steels, folding and pattern welding don't improve the steel, it just gives opportunities for scale inclusions, imperfections and delamination that will weaken the overall structure. You are always better off with a mono steel. Even if it is well done, the best you can hope for his not making it worse. Modern steels are just so good that you don't need to fold it to make up for the crappy steel. When they invented folding, pattern welding and compositing, it helped compensate for the crappy steel they had to work with. Now it just adds imperfections in an otherwise clean steel.

@@jbarnesiii88 Damascus steel isn't folded or layered. It is actually a crucible mono steel and the pattern is carbides forming in clusters in the steel matrix. If it isn't a monosteel, it is fake Damascus.

I considered it but didn't think it would grab the attention of most of the sword buyers who buy folded modern steel swords. Because the price difference of tamahagane makes it a lot less affordable. Thanks for the suggestion though!

If you use 5160 steel, you don't need the differential hardening because the peak toughness is the same temp as the peak hardness in the heat treat. 5160 is one tough steel.

That sword sucks🤦‍♂️…..Shut up Fruit👩‍🎤

@@ihcterra4625 Don't forget it has a spring temper too 😉.

Clay tempered sword will bent and stay bent if you cut with bad edge alignment. 1095 is great but only if properly heat treated so if the forge doesn't offer some kind of waranty in case of improper tempering, better not. 5160 monosteel through heat treatment makes for the better beater sword.

Thanks! Yeah first swords are for learning haha, didn't check the quality thoroughly enough on my first sword, still a nice piece but wouldn't use it for proper chopping

@@JustaBug welcome. Exactly. Lol.

Ah yes, I've seen a couple of his videos and seen photos of his workmanship. Great stuff

Absolutely. The marvels of modern technology

Modern steel has less inclusion which is where the carbon and purity are not bonded it how swords break which happened quite often in battle

Thanks! Depends what its for. If its for the looks then folded steel looks great. As a functional sword folding modern steels adds inclusions and loses carbon content so it would be like getting a lower carbon steel. If youre not using it for abusive testing though, in all honesty, either should be fine because even 1060 steel swords hold up to regular cutting decently. Hope that helps!

@@JustaBug ah okay I see and that definitely helps thank you very much

It would be very difficult to. The pattern would need to be folded many many many times and need more impurities added which would make it a worse steel

Indeed this was a video comparing modern monosteel to modern folded steels. You're absolutely right that historic folded steel outdid everything in it's time but this was specifically for the modern sword buyer to hopefully shed light on factors to consider before buying. Thanks for your comment and insight!

I personally use pool noodles and newspaper. I have a video on how to make newspaper targets quickly and at the bottom of my videos with the targets I talk a bit about them in the descriptions of my cutting videos. Mats are expensive where I live so I don't use them often. Bottles are good too for outdoor cutting.

Just a Bug are you on IG?

No. Not much of a photographer

Just a Bug IG is great for one minute videos! 👍🏼 Plus promoting your channel!

Thanks for the tip! I thought about tiktok but then felt I'd struggle to fit any content in a minute cos I like to talk and explore different aspects of topics. But I'll give it some thought, especially if the channel grows more

Does it matter having had modern steel and antique hand forged steel they both cut exactly the same don't get hung up on that stuff because in a real fight it doesn't matter swords would break in battle it happened often

In Japan all sharp swords are tamahagane due to their laws meaning that swords can't be made with modern steels

Yes, thank you for the correction! I should have stated it as the sword can get damaged as I was thinking along the lines of a bent sword is broken. Thanks for picking that up

@@aa1589 It was Strider's sword and at $230 that's a steal, or damaged or something, if it's the actual Darksword blade.

5160 is not standard, is high end and exceptionally high carbon steel so if that's what they are offering then jump on that.

This folded steel wakizashi was quite cheap from global gear

Yes, I'm aware traditional steels are folded prior to lamination. I don't see how that's relevant to this video talking about modern folded vs modern mono steel

Depends what you want out of it. Different steels have different properties and things are never as simple as a "best"

Chocolate

@@plankman6408 r/skamtebord

no, the whole point is that the forge weld ads opportunity for failure that doesn't exist in monosteel blades.

Depends on the quality of construction. If they're both by same maker I'd tend to go with the 1095. Folded steel is usually 1045 or 1060 by default if the steel type is not stated. Hope that helps!

T10 is a good high carbon steel so with the clay tempering it's good for actual cutting. For display it rusts quickly so either oil it or use some renaissance wax on the blade

@@JustaBug what do you recommend to get a blade from rusting the wax or oli

Wax if you won't cut anything with it. Oil if it will be used regularly

@@JustaBug thx

Tamahagane steel is pricey due to its difficulty in making. Modern steel often achieves lower impurity levels due to starting with a far more homogeneous material and improvements in steel production compared to the 1100s. The value of traditionally made blades is in the art and skill required to make them and appreciation of historic techniques and culture, embodied in a physical form, not it's physical durability

Nope

That's not a cut. I broke my index finger and talked about it in a few previous videos. Sword safety is no joke, safety first!

@@JustaBug Sorry I didn't catch that vid yet. Thanks for having a good sense of humor about my comment and thanks for posting the informative content. Cheers!!

Sure the carbon content has less inclusions and is stronger than antique hand forged steel I have had modern and antique hand forged steel in truth they both cut no body fights with swords so it's very unlikely that it would ever be an issue most people will have never put their sword in actual combat conditions to break one anyway I started training when I was 8 I am 44 now and I have had quite a few swords over the years I am a 3rd Dan and army veteran and close quarters combat except with two purple hearts and a bronze star

100% did not happen...please

@@nospoontobend2656no it did happen just that it was shot directly on the edge, not on the side

I've seen that same video a while back. If I recall correctly, it took seven rounds before the blade snapped, and it was the spinning of the rounds that did it in, otherwise it would have taken considerably more rounds to do it.

Yes. It is a very hard steel with good durability

That and your starting material. If you have pure starting material folding will only add impurities. However, if you have impure starting materials folding will remove the impurities. With modern steel we start with almost no impurities and so folding adds impurities and if it is not done over a dry heat like charcoal it will lower the carbon content

@@JustaBug Thank you! This has been very informative, gives me ideas for if I ever get into the hobby of sword smithing

I would recommend not getting stainless blades. The stainless steels that aren't brittle are usually too expensive for sword makers to use them properly

finally. Katana collectors love to d riding tamahagane. Anybody knows how and why tamahagane was invented know how shit of steel it is

Yes, it'd work fine

Damascus steel in modern times is just another name for pattern welded steel which would be the same as folded steel in this video. With regards to Damascus steel in ancient times I don't know enough to have a solid opinion

to my knowledge its not fully confirmed as to how ancient Damascus steel was made.

@@mauigsxr750 thats correct but there is a nice documental about. if you have time check it out. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hbZog6acyKi-hWg.html

@@panoctic cool. I’ll check it out.

@@panoctic oh yes I watched this before. Very exciting. looks like they are close. 👌🏻

Indeed sir as a blade Smith I agree

Damn straight I have used both modern steel and hand forged as well as antique steel they all cut the same

He is but the title isn't

It is a folded steel they would take iron sand and make a large piece then shatter it to smaller pieces which they would layer and fold it into a block and then draw the sword from that its basically Damascus they did that because of the low carbon content

@@willynillylive Dude Modern Damascus steel, in a nutshell, is the consequence of several types and layers of steel folded and forge-welded. The forging technique that produces Damascus steel results in the unique and varying patterns. Thus, it is also called pattern-welded steel. So is it folded steel? in a nutshell, yes it is.

Got broken. Volar plate fracture so it was pretty nasty with a fair amount of rehab

@@JustaBug God bless. So you may healed

Thanks for the kind wishes. It healed well and has not caused issues as of yet

Hahahaha thats a great one. That being said, I broke my finger, no sword sharpness testing here

Swords break under combat conditions it happened more than you would think

It is all in the way you use it.@@willynillylive

Angel Sword made one that actually has cut a machine gun barrel. Granted, the blade was made from S7 tool steel and was heat treated beyond anything else I've seen. It was featured on Mythbusters and is the only sword that didn't snap. The video can be found on Angel Sword's youtube channel.